17 geeky diversions for 2017

1of20Movies
“Logan” (March 3): Hugh Jackman pops the claws one last time as the broody mutant hero Logan, a role he’s owned since 2000’s “X-Men.” Inspired by the “Wolverine: Old Man Logan” comic series, “Logan” features an older and noticeably battle-scarred Logan in a grim future with no X-Men around to fight the good fight. Patrick Stewart reprises his role as mutant mentor Charles Xavier, with Dafne Keen as the mysterious young girl who may be a new hope for mutantkind.Photo: Official “Logan” website screenshot

3of20"Kong: Skull Island" has its share of explosions, but sharp dialogue doesn’t get blown away in the process.Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures

4of20“Alien: Covenant” (May 19): The latest installment in the sci-fi horror franchise might as well be called “Prometheus 2: The Apology,” what with so many wrongs it looks to make right from 2012’s questionable, quasi-“Alien” prequel “Prometheus.” In “Covenant,” “Alien” director Ridley Scott gets back to the terrifying roots of his 1979 classic, with another disposable crew aboard a spacecraft plagued with all sorts of extraterrestrial-induced jump scares and gore.Photo: Courtesy 20th Century Fox

5of20Did we mention “Alien: Covenant” has its share of blood?Photo: Courtesy 20th Century Fox

6of20“Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets” (July): If you loved Luc Besson’s lavish sci-fi romp “The Fifth Element” you’re in for an even trippier trek across the cosmos with the same mad visionary. Based on the French graphic novel series “Valérian and Laureline,” this new extravaganza by writer/director Besson features time- and space-hopping agents Valerian (Dane DeHaan, pictured) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne) as they journey across a colorful intergalactic city filled with otherworldy beings, starships and Rihanna.Photo: Courtesy 20th Century Fox

7of20“Blade Runner 2049” (Oct. 6): Ridley Scott’s other sci-fi masterpiece also gets a revisit, with a return to the moody cyber-noir world of 1982’s “Blade Runner.” Set 30 years after the events of the original film, “2049” features Ryan Gosling as LAPD Officer K, a new blade runner on the hunt for former replicant wrangler Rick Deckard, once again played by Harrison Ford.Photo: Trailer screenshot

9of20Tech
Report: Google “Pixel 3” laptop (fall 2017, $799): Picture a Google computing device that combines the mobile ease of the Android operating system with the desktop prowess of Chrome OS. According to Android Police, that vision should become reality. Nicknamed the “Pixel 3,” Google’s super-sleek laptop/tablet hybrid will reportedly sport a 12.3-inch display with a backlit keyboard and blended operating system called Andromeda. Starting at $799, the anticipated convertible laptop will be pricier than most Google Chromebooks or Pixel C tablet, but no doubt considerably more powerful.Photo: Android Police website screenshot

10of20Virtual reality: Last year was a big one for consumer virtual reality, what with five different companies debuting their VR gaming at PAX South in San Antonio, and Sony’s PlayStation VR reportedly selling around 745,000 units since its October launch. But 2017 should be when VR really gets, well, “real.” That’s because we’ve already seen the applications go beyond gaming. Last October’s Texas/Oklahoma college football game sat you right at the 50 yard line... virtually. Want to see the Spurs dominate from a whole new perspective? The NBA has partnered with NextVR to give NBA League Pass subscribers one game a week in virtual reality for the 2016-17 season. We’ve seen the future on those VR headsets, and there’s only more to come.Photo: Yagi Studio /Getty Images

11of20Bluetooth 5 (early to mid 2017): It’s easy to take Bluetooth connectivity for granted, but 2017 promises an even better connection. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) officially adopted Bluetooth 5 as the next version of the wireless standard, with twice the speed and four times the range of current Bluetooth. That means better communication between devices, a big plus in the Internet of Things arena, with coverage that should cover whole homes and buildings. The Bluetooth SIG expects Bluetooth 5 products to roll out in the next two to six months.Photo: David Becker /Getty Images

13of20“Twin Peaks” (Showtime, 2017): Welcome back to Twin Peaks, that sleepy, surreal logging town turned upside-down by the murder of homecoming queen Laura Palmer. ABC’s cult TV series returns from its early-90’s heyday for a second life on Showtime, set 25 years later. FBI Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) and other “Peaks” regulars are back, along with series creators David Lynch and Mark Frost, with Lynch directing.Photo: Courtesy Showtime

16of20Video Games
“Mass Effect Andromeda” (early 2017): The hit sci-fi gaming franchise “Mass Effect” explores a whole new star system of play, as you navigate the uncharted Andromeda galaxy to save humanity. Lead your team across myriad alien worlds and armory upgrades, with third-person combat that will have you combining amazing weapons with equally amazing abilities.Photo: Courtesy EA Games

17of20Nintendo Switch (March): Fingers crossed this new Nintendo hardware is easier come by than the NES Classic Edition. The Switch delivers home gaming on the go, combining Game Boy portability with game console fun on your TV. Just lift the Switch out of its dock for instant handheld action, with a high-definition display and detachable Joy-Con controllers for you and another player. Want more players to the Switch party? You all can bring your Switches together for even greater multiplayer goodness.Photo: Nintendo via The New York Times

18of20“The Last of Us Part II” (2017): Hardened post-pandemic survivors Joel and young Ellie reunite in this sequel to the critically acclaimed survival horror game of 2013. Set several years after the original, “Part II” switches up the format somewhat with Ellie as the playable character instead of Joel. Voice actors Troy Baker (Joel) and Ashley Johnson (Ellie) return for what’s sure to be another character-driven classic.Photo: Screenshot of website for "The Last of Us Part II."

19of20“Red Dead Redemption 2” (Fall 2017): The 2010 “Red Dead Redemption” gave gamers an engaging and immersive look at the end of the Old West. Now it’s back with a second round of open-world action, thanks to the creators of “Grand Theft Auto V.” “Redemption 2” promises a whole new online multiplayer experience, no doubt crafted with the kind of detailed visuals and sounds that made the original Western game an instant hit.Photo: Rockstar Games wallpaper download

20of20Microsoft Project Scorpio (Holiday 2017): For serious gamers and developers who crave serious power out of an Xbox, Microsoft delivers big time with Project Scorpio. The new console promises a staggering 6 teraflops of computing capability to handle 4K resolution and virtual reality gaming, with 320GB/second memory bandwidth and eight CPU cores. In layman’s terms, those numbers add up to some seriously gorgeous game play. Oh, and Xbox One games will play on this new box, too.Photo: Screenshot of video announcing Microsoft's Project Scorpio gaming system.

We could all use a good out-of-this-world escape from the dregs of 2016, let alone any 2017 woes to come. And what better avenues for adventure than the geekiest of movies, television series, video games and tech?

Of course we all know the nerdery that’s become part of every year — the new “Star Wars” flick in December and comic book movie(s) in summer, not to mention that umpteenth version of Apple’s iPhone this or Samsung’s Galaxy whatnot. So what say we explore the more esoteric and maybe even unexpected sci-fi, fantasy and gadgetry offerings off the mainstream path.

To help you on your journey, we combined our own picks with those of a few leading geek voices in San Antonio. Here are 17 geeky wonders to lose yourself in for 2017.

René A. Guzman is a features writer for the San Antonio Express-News. He writes about geek and pop culture as well as consumer gadgets and technology, and writes a blog called Geek Speak that covers comic books, tabletop gaming and other geek culture in San Antonio and beyond. He has also written about health and fitness and other consumer topics. In addition to the Express-News, Guzman's work has appeared in the Baltimore Sun, Beaumont Enterprise, Chicago Tribune, Houston Chronicle and San Francisco Chronicle. Before joining the Express-News in December 1998, the San Antonio native co-owned a college humor magazine named Bitter, for which he wrote, designed and edited, as well as distributed at various campuses and businesses citywide.